What You Missed On Beer Sessions Radio™: German Old World, American New World Beers

Andechs_Monastery_MunichWelcome to the German episode of Beer Sessions Radio™! We’re going international (and if you speak German, you’ll love this week’s episode) as we welcome Father Valentin from Klosterbrauerei Andechs, along with Lars Dalhaus (our happy translator) from St. Killians Importing and Sylvester Schneider from Zum Schneider in the East Village/Alphabet City.

Come hear about the journey to bring Andechs to the U.S. and why Germans don’t play around with flavors the way Americans do, preferring to create beer “Enjoyment for Body and Soul,” as the Andechs’ label proclaims.

On the American side, we have Dan Hitchcock and Nikki Cavanaugh from one of NY State’s youngest breweries, Rushing Duck. Hear about the brewery’s amazing growth and what beers they’re working on.

Plus, host Jimmy Carbone gets schooled in beer data terms by Girl’s Pint Out’s Jenn Litz, whose side job is writing for Craft Business Daily. So get the facts, just the facts, and nothing but the facts (nah, we’ll add in a lot of great beer) all on this week’s episode (listen here).

Weekend Events at GBS bars: Battle of the Belgians and Adobe Blues Brewery Appreciation Day

IMG_0226We’ve got your afternoon beer events covered for the weekend, as two Good Beer Seal bars host some of their favorite events of the year.

First up, Jimmy’s No. 43 is hosting Battle of the Belgians from 1-4 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, November 16th. Your ticket (get it here) entitles you to three hours of walk-around beer tasting, featuring the best of Belgium (from 12% Imports, Vanberg & Dewulf, Shelton Brothers, B. United) alongside American-made Belgian-style beers. Among the features:

  •   20+ beers to sample and vote on: you choose the winner! Americans and Belgians.
  •   Beers from Merchant du Vin, Duval/Ommegang, and Vanberg & DeWulf will compete with American-brewed draught and bottle offerings.
  •   FOOD! We’ll have brunch-style offerings including our favorite Belgian beer pairing: bacon! Plus, our award-winning biscuits, chocolate, small bites/tapas.
  •   Special guest: Brewer Rich Castagna of Bridge & Tunnel, one of our favorite local breweries, will be premiering some of his beers.
  •   1-4 p.m. walk-around tasting features  small batch, one-off, and classic Belgian-style beers.

For a list of last year’s beers and updates, check out Jimmy’s No. 43’s events listing.

Then on Sunday, Staten Island’s favorite craft beer bar, Adobe Blues, hosts its 3rd Annual Brewery Appreciation Day (November 17th, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.)! The line-up includes:

The ticket (get it here) also includes all-you-can-eat chicken, steak, and vegetable fajitas, plus mini tacos.

What You Missed On Beer Sessions Radio™: Bree’s Last Day, Steve Wood and Ciders

Bree and Jimmy at this year's BCTC, getting ready to record together for the final time.
Bree and Jimmy at this year’s BCTC at Brewery Ommegang, getting ready to record together for the final time.

On this week’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio™ (listen here), we bid adieu to one of our own, co-founding producer Bree O’Connor, who was with us when we launched our podcast four years ago. It gives host Jimmy Carbone a chance to walk down memory lane (and memory loss lane – Penny Pink is from Portneuf Valley Brewing was in the studio on 6/28/11; the Seattle pub mentioned at 12:50 is Latona, who phoned in to the studio on 9/27/11). Bree also breaks out, “Guests I keep in my fridge,” for one last toast in the studio.

Plus, Ed Berestecki of Mugs Alehouse is back. What have been their favorite beers this year? For Jimmy, it’s Hitachino’s Dai Dai (which will be among the beers featured at this Saturday’s Battle of the Belgians at Jimmy’s No. 43); for Ed it’s a toss-up between Smuttynose’s Rye IPA and Barrier Brewing’s Bumble; Bree goes for a beer she hasn’t had in awhile: Surly Brewing Company’s Hells (which might unite her homes as it’s made in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota… coincidence? hmm…).

Bree’s takeaway from all these years: “One of the great things I’ve learned from being involved with the show is how much more I love the product after I meet the person. Because after I meet the person, I understand the product. You understand why that guy made that beer.”

For the second half of the show, Farnum Hill Cider’s Steve Wood calls in and talks about his childhood in the apple orchard, and how he came to start making hard ciders (hint: the financial future of the apple farm was involved). Why does Steve prefer still to sparkling ciders? (Answer: fortuitous connections to U.K. cider makers). Find out what differentiates industrial cider production from the techniques and methods used by Farnum Hill Ciders. Find out how Steve uses tannic apples to produce elegant cider! Tune into this program to hear Steve diagnose the problems with Ed’s apple trees, and listen to Steve talk about pruning practices and his distaste for pesticides. And say goodbye to Bree (we’ll miss you)!

What You Missed On Beer Sessions Radio™: Beer and Food So Good Together

VBDWThis week’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio™ is bound to make you salivate! We’re talking about our favorite beer and food pairings as host Jimmy Carbone welcomes Jimmy Ludwig from The Happy Hour Guys, beer writer John Holl, Anne (loves beer!) from The Gingerman, and Tony Forder of Ales Street News.

So what are a few of the group’s favorite beer pairings?

Jimmy Ludwig talks about drinking a New Holland Dragon’s Milk beer float with vanilla ice cream. John revels in oppositional parings, such as oysters and stout (an oyster stout, perhaps?). Anne talks about how they introduce Gingerman patrons to various craft beer options by pairing with cheese.

Is beer better for the table than wine? This panel sure seems to think so. John Holl (who is co-hosting a dinner at Jimmy’s No. 43 next week) notes that one of the goals of his new book, The American Craft Beer Cookbook, was to show how craft beer is mimicking the local food movement. He wants craft beer drinkers (and brewers) to couch beer in food terms, to make craft beer more accessible to the the majority of non-beer drinkers in the US.

Speaking of beer and food, this year’s Coast to Coast Toast (CTCT3) takes place next Thursday, November 14th, and Vanberg & Dewulf’s Wendy Littlefield calls in to talk about the nationwide event that this year is focusing on pairing craft beer and quality food. Tune in to hear about both oppositional (savory-sweet) and complimentary beer pairings and what bars around the country have planned for the CTCT3.

Plus, Tony is talking about his recent European beer tour, and everyone on the panel talks about how the US is now a leader in the European beer scene. Plus, find out where John thinks every craft beer drinker should go before s/he dies (hint, it’s in Milwaukee). All this and lots of cool beer on this week’s Beer Sessions Radio™ (full episode here).